TransVision 2010 Presentation by Suzanne Gildert

Thinking about the hardware of thinking: Can disruptive technologies help us achieve uploading?

We are surrounded by devices that rely on silicon processors. But is this the only possibility? As we wish to run computations faster and more efficiently, we might we need to reconsider the underlying computer hardware that we all take for granted. As we begin to run larger and more brain-like emulations, will our current methods of simulating neural networks be enough, even in principle? Why does the brain, with 100 billion neurons, consume less than 50W of power, whilst our attempts to simulate tens of thousands of neurons (for example in the blue brain project) consumes tens of KW? In this talk I will discuss some possible ways of running AI algorithms on novel forms of computer hardware, such as quantum computing processors. These behave entirely differently to our current silicon chips, and help to emphasize just how important disruptive technologies may be to our attempts to build intelligent machines.

Dr Suzanne Gildert is currently working as an Experimental Physicist at D-Wave Systems, Inc. She is involved in the design and testing of large scale superconducting processors for Quantum Computing Applications. Suzanne obtained her PhD and MSci degree from The University of Birmingham UK, focusing on the areas of experimental quantum device physics and superconductivity.